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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Mary Clarke

The top NHL players on the market ahead of the 2024 trade deadline

NHL USA TODAY Sports George Walker IV Jakob Chychrun Noah Hanifin Pavel Buchnevich Scott Laughton Sean Walker Trevor Zegras Vladimir Tarasenko

The 2024 NHL trade deadline is mere days away and there are still a good number of the top names left on the board.

Doors will close for NHL trades for the rest of the season on Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m. ET ahead of the upcoming playoff push. As of Monday, we’ve already seen some big names come off the board over the last few weeks, including Sean Monahan, Chris Tanev and Elias Lindholm, among others.

MORE NHL: What should all 32 teams do at the 2024 trade deadline?

Now that we’re officially in the home stretch, expect trades to pick up as teams look to sell high on their assets or bulk up before the playoffs. With that being said, who are the biggest names remaining ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline? Let’s take a look!

F Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Cap hit: $6 million
Years: UFA

Jake Guentzel hasn’t participated in a game since February 14 due to injury, but has 22 goals and 52 points in the 50 games he has played this season. With the Penguins sputtering and looking to offload assets at the deadline for futures, Guentzel leads this list of NHL trade targets. The only issue? Guetnzel has a modified no-trade list, meaning the Penguins will only be able to deal him to certain teams unless the clause is waived.

Update: The Penguins traded Guentzel to the Hurricanes on March 7.

The deal that's bringing Jake Guentzel to Raleigh ⬇️

Details » https://t.co/EqRzlG9Gzo pic.twitter.com/kAGNRy2Qt2

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 8, 2024

F Adam Henrique, Anaheim Ducks

Cap hit: $5.825 million
Years: UFA

The center market is a bit thin this deadline, with Adam Henrique and his 42 points in 59 games on the Anaheim Ducks the biggest prize remaining. Current scuttlebutt has Henrique linked to the New York Rangers — along with Ducks teammate Frank Vatrano — but any contending team will no doubt be inquiring about a solid centerman who kills penalties and can win a faceoff or two.

Update: The Ducks traded Henrique to the Oilers on March 6.

Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick will be going to Edmonton.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 6, 2024

D Noah Hanifin, Calgary Flames

Cap hit: $4.95 million
Years: UFA

Noah Hanifin should command quite an asking price given he’s the top defenseman on the market and is squarely in his prime. Hanifin not only can add offense to a team’s back end (11 goals and 35 points this season), he can also soak up the hard minutes as a team’s top-pairing blue liner. Even though the Flames are currently battling it out for a playoff spot, Hanifin should no doubt be on the move by deadline’s end.

Update: The Flames traded Hanifin to the Golden Knights on March 6.

VIVA LAS VEGAS 🤯

That's right, Noah Hanifin is now officially a member of the @GoldenKnights!

The #NHLTradeDeadline is Friday at 3p ET. pic.twitter.com/iiSTJ0Uxwe

— NHL (@NHL) March 7, 2024

G Jacob Markström, Calgary Flames

Cap hit: $6 million
Years: Two

The first goaltender on this list, Jacob Markström has done his absolute best to keep Calgary in the playoff mix. There’s uncertainty around if the Flames are willing to move on from Markström given their spot in the race, but it seems as if tension is brewing between the goaltender and Calgary that might expedite this situation. This season, Markström has a 21-15-2 record and a .914 save percentage and would make a great pickup for a contender even with the two-year term after this season.

F Pavel Buchnevich, St. Louis Blues

Cap hit: $5.8 million
Years: One

Pavel Buchnevich is the Blues’ top goal scorer this year (24 goals and 48 points total) and could very well hit 30 before the season’s end. Goal scorers like that are often at the top of trade boards for a reason and it seems like St. Louis could get a good haul for Buchnevich before the deadline’s out. It feels like Buchnevich hasn’t gotten the flowers he deserves for being a near consistent point-per-game player but this deadline should show his true worth to contending teams.

F Vladimir Tarasenko, Ottawa Senators

Cap hit: $5 million
Years: UFA

Another year with Vladimir Tarasenko at the top of trade boards. While Tarasenko has put up no shortage of points in Ottawa (41 points in 57 games), the relationship will likely go no further than the deadline thanks to the Senators’ disappointing season. However, Tarasenko does have a no-trade clause that will need to be waived before the Senators send him anywhere.

Update: The Senators traded Tarasenko to the Panthers on March 6.

Ottawa retains 50 percent on Tarasenko in the trade with Florida.
Going to Ottawa from Florida:
2024 4th RD pick (which becomes 2026 3rd RD pick if Panthers win Cup)
2025 3rd Rd pick

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 6, 2024

D Sean Walker, Philadelphia Flyers

Cap hit: $2.65 million
Years: UFA

This season, the Flyers have turned Sean Walker into a reliable puck-moving defenseman putting up nearly 20 minutes of ice time a game. That fact alone will mean Walker likely nets a first or second round pick as a starting point at the deadline, especially since Chris Tanev is off the market now after being traded to Dallas. We’ll have to see how creative new general manager Danny Briere gets in order to get Walker shipped to a contending team.

Update: The Flyers traded Walker to the Avalanche on March 6.

Can confirm that the Flyers have traded Sean Walker to Colorado.

— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) March 6, 2024

F Anthony Duclair, San Jose Sharks

Cap hit: $3 million
Years: UFA

Anthony Duclair has, no surprise, struggled (13 goals, 22 points) on a depressing Sharks team, but was previously a 30-goal scorer with Florida back in 2021-22. Given his cheap contract and UFA status at season’s end, Duclair could be a good depth pickup for a contending team who has an offensive upside that could be unlocked once more on a better team.

Update: The Sharks traded Duclair to the Lightning on March 7.

We have acquired forward Anthony Duclair and a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Jack Thompson and Tampa Bay’s third-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. https://t.co/VIaA3QgMFX

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 8, 2024

G Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

Cap hit: $5 million
Years: One

Every year it seems like Juuse Saros is on the trade block and nothing comes of it. This year, however, the Predators have Yaroslav Askarov waiting in the wings as a possible replacement, but will Barry Trotz pull the trigger on a deal with the Predators in a playoff spot? At the very least, Nashville should be listening to offers on Saros, who could change a team’s fortunes with his career-wide history of excellence.

F Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers

Cap hit: $3 million
Years: Two

Scott Laughton is a prototypical NHL bottom-six player every team needs this time of year. Laughton plays with grit teams crave heading into playoff time, but he can help put up points as well (31 points in 62 games this season). The Flyers are reportedly asking for a first-round pick for Laughton, which seems high, but the market could trend that direction as teams get desperate for depth center help.

D Jakob Chychrun, Ottawa Senators

Cap hit: $4.6 million
Years: One

It’s been just over a year since the Senators acquired Jakob Chychrun at the 2023 trade deadline and the defenseman could very well get dealt in short order. While reports say it’s “unlikely” Chychrun will move before Friday’s deadline, Ottawa will very likely get calls about the defenseman all the same. Chychrun has 31 points in 59 games for the Senators this season.

F Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes

Cap hit: $3 million
Years: UFA

The Hurricanes won’t be selling at this year’s deadline, as they’re in contention for the top spot in the Metro, but Martin Necas is a name that could get thrown out as a piece to facilitate a bigger trade. With 19 goals and 43 points in 56 games for the Hurricanes, Necas is a solid middle-six player with center experience.

F Anthony Mantha, Washington Capitals

Cap hit: $5.7 million
Years: UFA

With the Capitals seven points back from a playoff spot and counting, it feels like the team is set to sell at the deadline and Anthony Mantha could be a perfect fit for a team looking for depth. Mantha’s cap hit is a bit high — though he has 19 goals and 33 points this year — but the Capitals could easily retain some money or facilitate a trade through a third party to get a deal done.

Update: The Capitals traded Mantha to the Golden Knights on March 5.

The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired Anthony Mantha from Washington.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 5, 2024

D Alexandre Carrier, Nashville Predators

Cap hit: $2.5 million
Years: UFA

If the Predators do end up selling at the deadline, Alexandre Carrier could be a name to keep an eye on, especially if the defensive market starts to thin. Carrier has gone under the radar over the last few years, but fits the bill as a rental blue liner that can be effective defensively as well as being an offensive facilitator.

F Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks

Cap hit: $5.75 million
Years: Two

It feels highly unlikely that the Ducks will trade Trevor Zegras at the deadline, but he has to make the list because of how odd the whole situation is. Zegras has been injured for a good portion of the season and when he has played, he hasn’t looked great (four goals and seven points in 20 games). And yet, everyone remembers his flashy highlights and gets excited again, especially since there’s been rumors surrounding a trade before the week is up. If the Ducks do move on from Zegras, it would likely happen in the offseason, but this situation is still incredibly fascinating nonetheless.